Prescott Park
Prescott Park
4.5
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
713 reviews
Excellent
457
Very good
186
Average
61
Poor
5
Terrible
4
NHjo
Saco, ME8,455 contributions
Sep 2022
I don't know how anyone can be lackadaisical about this park. It's right on the waterfront and has fantastic views. There's an enclosed formal garden with brick walks, fountains, and beautiful trees as well as a nearby large public garden. There are several monuments and a few historic buildings. There's plenty of seating and shade, cool breezes, beautiful landscaping. It's an arts venue in the summer months with live music performances and plays. You can walk to it from downtown. You can board the gundalow from it for an afternoon or sunset harbor sail. It's beautiful any time of year, even in winter.
Written September 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DanandWendyBoston
Boston88 contributions
Jul 2019
Caught Warren Haynes solo last July 27 at Prescott Park in Portsmouth. Scored a nice shaded spot and set up our blanket. Super casual venue with lots of families. A ship going under the old Rt 1. Bridge linking NH with Badger Island and Kittery Foreside blew its whistle right in the middle of "Into the Mystic" and the 'foghorn whisle blows' line. Classic.
Written March 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SnoSearchT
Franklin, MA143 contributions
Jul 2023
This is a beautiful park, however it is not pet/dog friendly. Not all of the park entrances have signage that indicate this- so beware. I do not understand how the city is OK with allowing Canadian geese fouling up the park and the water, but behaved, leashed dogs are not.
Written August 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JayLeap
Boston, MA1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Family
Word of advice… do not go to any shows at Prescott Park Arts Festival. I never write posts negative or positive. I’ve sponsored this 501c3 for years through a company. Fought for dollars for them. Went tonight and was told i wasn’t allowed to stand up. They asked me to go behind a barrier basically with no view of the stage behind concrete. After i waited a half hour for rain to pass, donated to get in and the park was not full. So unfortunate this has become a president here. No bands will come to play here. Zero vibe!!!! I really loved this summer series of music but i refuse to be told i can’t stand for a band that is based on crowd vibe. Sad state of affairs. Unless you are ninety and can’t stand you should not support this festival.
Written August 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
peter194940
toms river, new jersey598 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
The hotel person who checked us in at our hotel suggested we go to Prescott Park for a few hours the afternoon of our check in. It was a nice park on the water. We actually saw a bride getting her pictures taken rhere
Written October 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NHjo
Saco, ME8,455 contributions
May 2023 • Friends
The apple blossom trees in the Prescott Park garden are in full bloom and it's absolutely beautiful. They also have the stage background set up for the summer play. It was a perfect day when we went, with some great views of the river, bridge, and the Naval Shipyard across the river.
Written May 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cenzt
Iowa5,809 contributions
Aug 2020
Good trip. We arrived at approximately 5 pm and began walking around the park. There was a nice water fountain on the premise, as well as a waterfront and a small garden. We walked around the garden for a bit and enjoyed the sights and sounds of nature. There were public restrooms located in the park, and the park itself was very clean.
Tip: I recommend spending 30 minutes here if you truly want to see everything.
Tip: I recommend spending 30 minutes here if you truly want to see everything.
Written April 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NHjo
Saco, ME8,455 contributions
Jul 2021
Prescott Park is one of the most beautiful parks in the country. It's historic and right on the water, has beautiful landscaping, has an outdoor arts venue, and is steps away from Portsmouth's Strawbery Banke, shops, and restaurants. The flower gardens are in full bloom right now. It's a great place to spend a few hours.
Written July 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
chickadee33
41 contributions
I visited Prescott Park on a beautiful, sunny day on Labor Day weekend. It is about a 10 minute walk from the bustling center of town. The park has small piers that go out just a bit over the Piscataqua river/Portsmouth harbor with wooden benches to sit on so you can take in the view of the water and the boats. There is also a small theater on the grounds where plays are put on in the summer.
One of its most outstanding features though is the gardens - there are two. One is a small, maze-like, circular garden with 2 fountains and small concrete benches to sit on. The plants were healthy and big and were mostly shade-tolerant hostas, coleus, and impatiens.
The other garden was a bit bigger and had a wide variety of plantings in many rows with little tags identifying them all. The entire garden area covers less than half an acre but it is quite a colorful display from spring through early fall.
The rest of the park consists of grass, tall trees, pathways, benches and open areas where you can walk or just sit and take in the serenity of it all. It is definitely a wonderful place to relax while taking in some of the beauty of Portsmouth.
One of its most outstanding features though is the gardens - there are two. One is a small, maze-like, circular garden with 2 fountains and small concrete benches to sit on. The plants were healthy and big and were mostly shade-tolerant hostas, coleus, and impatiens.
The other garden was a bit bigger and had a wide variety of plantings in many rows with little tags identifying them all. The entire garden area covers less than half an acre but it is quite a colorful display from spring through early fall.
The rest of the park consists of grass, tall trees, pathways, benches and open areas where you can walk or just sit and take in the serenity of it all. It is definitely a wonderful place to relax while taking in some of the beauty of Portsmouth.
Written September 14, 2004
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maurene_K
Dover, NH10,913 contributions
Aug 2014 • Solo
Prescott Park was donated to the City of Portsmouth in 1940 by Josie and Sarah Prescott with land from various adjacent riverfront properties that they had purchased with inheritance money. Their intent was to create a riverfront park for all to enjoy free of charge.
The park is approximately 10 acres in size. Along its length, it is bounded on one side by Marcy Street and the Piscataqua River on the other.
The park has extensive colorful, well-tended gardens with an array of flowers and plants and plenty of benches for relaxing and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of the beautiful surroundings. The fountains, while small, are very nice. Walkways go through the center and around the perimeter past some outdoor art---mostly sculpture.
Many people come to enjoy the beauty, others to people-watch, others to read a book or newspaper, others to walk along the riverfront, and others to watch marine traffic near the new bridge to Kittery, Maine. It’s also something of a social hub. Friends meet there.
The Piscataqua, a replica of a historic gundalow, sails from the riverfront docks that are accessed through the park.
One can get scenic views of the new award-winning Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Bridge, NH State Port Authority Commercial Fishermen’s Pier on Peirce Island, and Four Tree Island, plus Badger’s Island and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. When the Piscataqua Maritime Commission runs SAIL Portsmouth, the nearby Commercial Fishermen’s Pier has been the docking area for the visiting tall ships.
Prescott Park is also a historic site. The historic Sheafe Warehouse is near the middle of the park along the riverfront. It was originally located at corner of Mechanic Street and the Pierce Island Road. It was once part of Portsmouth’s bustling port. Local historians believe that U.S.S. Ranger, the sloop-of-war commanded by Captain John Paul Jones and built at John Langdon’s shipyard, was probably equipped at the Sheafe Warehouse in 1777 for Jones’s departure to take on the English Navy.
Sheafe Warehouse and the Long Wharf site are Stop #1 on the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail. African slaves were in Portsmouth as early as 1645. They were often auctioned off aboard as as soon as they docked. They were used as servants, seamen, dock workers, and farm hands; some became trained craftsmen. Today, the New Hampshire Art Association hold art shows in the Sheafe Warehouse in the summer.
Prescott Park is also a venue for outdoor music through the Prescott Arts Festival, plus theater and dance performances as well as nighttime movies in the summer. It also hosts various food festivals that include The Chili Cook-Off, Fish & Lobster Festival, Brew Fest, and Chowder Festival. Portsmouth is a New England music center so there are also music festivals such as The Jazz, Folk, Country, and Roots & Rhythm Festivals.
The roadway beside Prescott Park leads to Peirce Island, another park owned by the City of Portsmouth, which was once Fort Washington. That park features a boat launch, picnic areas, walking trails, and scenic views of the Piscataqua River, Badger’s Island, and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. It is always a great place to watch marine traffic, especially when tall ships sail up the river in the Parade of Sail during the SAIL Portsmouth event each year.
Four Tree Island, an adjacent small park, is accessed through a gate off the first parking lot on Peirce Island. It contains covered picnic tables, cooking facilities and public restrooms.
On-street and lot parking for Prescott Park are at a premium. The most-ample free parking is on Peirce Island where there are several small lots. There’s a small pay lot at the end of State Street (Route 1) and Daniel Street just before the new Memorial Bridge.
Many other attractions are readily accessible from this area:
1) A sail on the Piscataqua gundalow is available right at the dock in Prescott Park.
2) Across Marcy Street is Strawbery Banke Museum, an authentic neighborhood with houses dating back to circa 1695 when the first part of the Sherburne House was built. It is also Stop #3 on the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail as The Sherburnes had household slaves. Several other sites of the trail are within a few blocks.
3) Across Peirce Island Road is The Point of Graves Burial Grounds. The oldest legible gravestone is dated 1682.
4) On a short walk away down Mechanic Street, one will find the historic Wentworth-Gardner & Tobias Lear Houses which are together diagonally across from Geno’s Chowder & Sandwich Shop. They are open for tours on a combined ticket.
5) The historic Macphaedris-Warner House is just a block-plus away on the corner of Daniel and Chapel Streets. It is also Stop #6 on the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail. It is open for tours.
6) The new Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Bridge attracts a lot of walkers. There’s a protected 6-foot wide pedestrian walkway and a 5-foot wide bicycle lane on the bridge. Access is at the end of State Street near the North Pier in Prescott Park.
7) Historic Market Square is three blocks away up Daniel Street from the park’s North pier area near the new Memorial Bridge. En route on Daniel Street, one will find Kaffee Vonsolln, a European style coffee shop, Colby's Breakfast and Lunch, and The Press Room Restaurant.
Although a great number of my visits from July 2011 to 2014 were to watch the dismantling of the original Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Bridge, the progress on building the replacement bridge, and to witness the illumination of the new structure, my most recent visit was to photograph Privateer Lynx and Schooner Mystic docked at the Commercial Fishermen’s Pier during the 2014 SAIL Portsmouth. Prescott Park provided a great vantage point for full broadside photos of both ships.
There are restrooms near the middle of the park.
The park is wheelchair accessible.
If you found this review helpful, kindly click YES below.
The park is approximately 10 acres in size. Along its length, it is bounded on one side by Marcy Street and the Piscataqua River on the other.
The park has extensive colorful, well-tended gardens with an array of flowers and plants and plenty of benches for relaxing and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of the beautiful surroundings. The fountains, while small, are very nice. Walkways go through the center and around the perimeter past some outdoor art---mostly sculpture.
Many people come to enjoy the beauty, others to people-watch, others to read a book or newspaper, others to walk along the riverfront, and others to watch marine traffic near the new bridge to Kittery, Maine. It’s also something of a social hub. Friends meet there.
The Piscataqua, a replica of a historic gundalow, sails from the riverfront docks that are accessed through the park.
One can get scenic views of the new award-winning Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Bridge, NH State Port Authority Commercial Fishermen’s Pier on Peirce Island, and Four Tree Island, plus Badger’s Island and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. When the Piscataqua Maritime Commission runs SAIL Portsmouth, the nearby Commercial Fishermen’s Pier has been the docking area for the visiting tall ships.
Prescott Park is also a historic site. The historic Sheafe Warehouse is near the middle of the park along the riverfront. It was originally located at corner of Mechanic Street and the Pierce Island Road. It was once part of Portsmouth’s bustling port. Local historians believe that U.S.S. Ranger, the sloop-of-war commanded by Captain John Paul Jones and built at John Langdon’s shipyard, was probably equipped at the Sheafe Warehouse in 1777 for Jones’s departure to take on the English Navy.
Sheafe Warehouse and the Long Wharf site are Stop #1 on the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail. African slaves were in Portsmouth as early as 1645. They were often auctioned off aboard as as soon as they docked. They were used as servants, seamen, dock workers, and farm hands; some became trained craftsmen. Today, the New Hampshire Art Association hold art shows in the Sheafe Warehouse in the summer.
Prescott Park is also a venue for outdoor music through the Prescott Arts Festival, plus theater and dance performances as well as nighttime movies in the summer. It also hosts various food festivals that include The Chili Cook-Off, Fish & Lobster Festival, Brew Fest, and Chowder Festival. Portsmouth is a New England music center so there are also music festivals such as The Jazz, Folk, Country, and Roots & Rhythm Festivals.
The roadway beside Prescott Park leads to Peirce Island, another park owned by the City of Portsmouth, which was once Fort Washington. That park features a boat launch, picnic areas, walking trails, and scenic views of the Piscataqua River, Badger’s Island, and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. It is always a great place to watch marine traffic, especially when tall ships sail up the river in the Parade of Sail during the SAIL Portsmouth event each year.
Four Tree Island, an adjacent small park, is accessed through a gate off the first parking lot on Peirce Island. It contains covered picnic tables, cooking facilities and public restrooms.
On-street and lot parking for Prescott Park are at a premium. The most-ample free parking is on Peirce Island where there are several small lots. There’s a small pay lot at the end of State Street (Route 1) and Daniel Street just before the new Memorial Bridge.
Many other attractions are readily accessible from this area:
1) A sail on the Piscataqua gundalow is available right at the dock in Prescott Park.
2) Across Marcy Street is Strawbery Banke Museum, an authentic neighborhood with houses dating back to circa 1695 when the first part of the Sherburne House was built. It is also Stop #3 on the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail as The Sherburnes had household slaves. Several other sites of the trail are within a few blocks.
3) Across Peirce Island Road is The Point of Graves Burial Grounds. The oldest legible gravestone is dated 1682.
4) On a short walk away down Mechanic Street, one will find the historic Wentworth-Gardner & Tobias Lear Houses which are together diagonally across from Geno’s Chowder & Sandwich Shop. They are open for tours on a combined ticket.
5) The historic Macphaedris-Warner House is just a block-plus away on the corner of Daniel and Chapel Streets. It is also Stop #6 on the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail. It is open for tours.
6) The new Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Bridge attracts a lot of walkers. There’s a protected 6-foot wide pedestrian walkway and a 5-foot wide bicycle lane on the bridge. Access is at the end of State Street near the North Pier in Prescott Park.
7) Historic Market Square is three blocks away up Daniel Street from the park’s North pier area near the new Memorial Bridge. En route on Daniel Street, one will find Kaffee Vonsolln, a European style coffee shop, Colby's Breakfast and Lunch, and The Press Room Restaurant.
Although a great number of my visits from July 2011 to 2014 were to watch the dismantling of the original Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Bridge, the progress on building the replacement bridge, and to witness the illumination of the new structure, my most recent visit was to photograph Privateer Lynx and Schooner Mystic docked at the Commercial Fishermen’s Pier during the 2014 SAIL Portsmouth. Prescott Park provided a great vantage point for full broadside photos of both ships.
There are restrooms near the middle of the park.
The park is wheelchair accessible.
If you found this review helpful, kindly click YES below.
Written August 19, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is this a rain-or-shine venue
Cheri W
La Jolla, CA190 contributions
My guess would be for sunshine and overcast days. The musical instruments would get wet during a concert. There isn't a canopy over the stage.
Can you bring snacks into a concert?
alborealis
Portsmouth, NH255 contributions
Yes, you can bring any kind of food and drink EXCEPT alchohol - that is a city restriction on public drinking.
dks6457
New London, NH1 contribution
what is Prescott park like for taking photos now the end of October?
rslaaliensr
Bradenton, FL421 contributions
I do not know, I am in Fl. by then!
Ray7Hirsch
Poughkeepsie, NY
Are dogs allowed?
Susan H
Wilmington98 contributions
No, but there are 8 dog parks in Portsmouth. For a tiny town, that's a lot. It's a great city for dogs. Large and small, you see them everywhere, and many shops put out water bowls to welcome them.
Merfpark
2 contributions
Is shuttle service available for events at Prescott park?
ITProjectManager
ITProjectManager32 contributions
No. there is no shuttle directly to the park. There is a parking lot on the outskirts of town and there is a shuttle from the lot to town but it does not go by the park.
Where were you looking to be shuttled from?
How can i buy buttons/membership?
Bostonian2011
Boston, MA315 contributions
Paid by our taxes.
FrancoisFamily
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL20 contributions
When would be the best time to go for engagement pictures with the gardens full bloom? Thank you!
Kevin E
Nashua, NH213 contributions
Because of how the garden has been design you can get equally beautiful but different pictures starting mid Mayuntil mid Sept and would try to get there three times (mid to late May, mid July and mid sept).
authoressNY
New York State57 contributions
I use a four-wheeled walker. What are the paths made of? Macadim, brick, gravel? Are there benches to rest along the way? Thank you.
Diane B
Vernon, New Jersey, United States8 contributions
There are plenty of benches in the park. the paths are made of crushed stone, brick and macadam depending on where you are.
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Claim your listingPrescott Park - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Prescott Park
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Prescott Park:
- Public | Explore the Islands & Harbor | Visit Must See | 2-2.5hrs (From $70.00)
- Portsmouth Scavenger Hunt: Pretty Portsmouth (From $12.31)
- Gardens of Portsmouth Walking Tour (From $40.00)
- Public | Self-Guided 21-Speed Hybrid Rental Portsmouth NH | 3-hrs (From $48.00)
- Public | Historic Neighborhoods Bike Tour | City Tour | 1.5-2hrs. (From $60.00)
- Hotels near Prescott Park:
- (0.18 mi) The Sailmaker's House
- (0.20 mi) Ale House Inn
- (0.12 mi) History and Comfortable Luxury Downtown
- (0.45 mi) The Hotel Portsmouth
- (0.38 mi) Hilton Garden Inn Portsmouth Downtown
- Restaurants near Prescott Park:
- (0.12 mi) Rosa Restaurant
- (0.21 mi) Cure
- (0.13 mi) Domo
- (0.23 mi) Ristorante Massimo
- (0.15 mi) Fezziwig's Food and Fountain
Prescott Park Information
Excellent Reviews | 457 |
|---|---|
Very Good Reviews | 186 |
Prescott Park Photos | 364 |